BROKEN HOMES Addressing the Impact of House Demolitions on Palestinian Children & Families Palestinian boys search the rubble of dozens of houses demolished by the Israeli army on the border between Rafah and Egypt on June 2, 2004. PHOTO/ Apollo images. Broken Homes: Addressing the Impact of House Demolitions on Palestinian Children & Families

©All rights reserved April 2009

Issued by Palestinian Counselling Centre Beit Hanina-entrance to the Garden of Eden P.O. Box: 17402, Jerusalem Telephone: 00972-2-6562272 or 00972-2-6562627 Fax: 00972-2-6562271 E-mail: [email protected]

Save the Children UK P.O. Box: 18117, Jerusalem 91180 Telephone: 00972-2-5838594 Fax: 00972-2-5838595 www.savethechildren.org.uk

Welfare Association P.O. Box: 25204, Jerusalem Telephone: 00972-2-2415130 Fax: 00972-2-2975984 www.welfare-association.org

Cover image: A Palestinian child stands in a camp for Palestinians displaced in Gaza in Israel’s Dec. ‘08 - Jan. ‘09 offensive. Two hundred and fifty families live in this camp, where Save the Children established a child- friendly space as part of its program. Credit: O. Damo

Designed by: Marwan Hamad, InterTech, Ramallah Palestinian formation of the Palestinian Au- Counselling Centre thority in 1994, we increased our The Palestinian Counselling Centre support for partner organisations (PCC) was established by a group in the OPT, focusing on technical of psychologists, sociologists and assistance in health and education. educators in 1983 to work towards We established a full-time pres- improving and developing mental ence in the OPT in 2002. Current- health and services in Palestine. The ly, our programme consists of pro- Centre began operating voluntarily viding emergency support in Gaza, by working in schools to increase protecting children in their schools awareness of the importance of and communities, and promoting counselling and intervention for and protecting children’s rights. children exposed to political abuse and violence. Public services in Welfare Association the field of mental health were at Welfare Association (WA) is a that time confined to Bethlehem’s private, non-profit foundation mental hospital, which treats the established in Geneva in 1983 seriously mentally ill, as well as to support Palestinian society in private clinics of a few psychiatrists. sustainable development. It has Biochemical treatment (medicine become better known in Palestine and electric shock) and behavioural and the Arab region by its Arabic therapy were the only two thera- name, Ta’awoun, meaning ‘coop- peutic methods in use. The PCC eration’. WA beneficiaries are the has sought to educate about a more than four million Palestin- broader range of mental health op- ians who are served by Palestinian tions, coping skills and treatments. non-governmental organizations, community institutions and chari- Save the Children-UK table organizations in the West in the OPT Bank, Gaza Strip, Galilee, Jaffa, Save the Children UK began pro- Akka, Nazareth and Naqab, as well Acknowledgments viding health services to Palestinian as in refugee camps in Lebanon. refugees living in Lebanese camps WA works by strengthening local To all those who contrib- in 1949, following the exodus of organizations, and assisting them uted to the success of this Palestinians from the newly-cre- in improving their services to the research, the children and ated state of Israel. Following the community and in promoting Pales- families, and the project coor- signing of the Oslo Accords and tinian culture, heritage and identity. dinating committee 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1- Executive Summary ...... 7 On the Day of the Demolition ...... 18 2- Introduction...... 10 The Demolition Process ...... 19 House Demolitions and Internal Following the Demolition ...... 21 Displacement in the Occupied Palestinian Territory ...... 10 On the Day of the Study Interview ...... 25 House Demolitions: A Backgrounder ...... 11 Mental Health Findings ...... 27 Why Are Houses Demolished? ...... 12 4- What is Being Done? ...... 34 What Happens When a House is Demolished? ...... 13 5- Conclusion ...... 36 How Do House Demolitions Impact Communities? ...... 14 Wider Consequences of No Response ...... 39 Related International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law..16 6- Recommendations ...... 40 3- Studying the Impact 7- Annex - Research Methodology ...... 43 of House Demolitions on Children & Families ...... 18 8- Endnotes ...... 47 About This Study ...... 18 House Demolitions: The Day of and the Day After ...... 18

5 Mother of activist Rayad Abu Daher inspects damage at her home in the West Bank city of Ramallah, May 14, 2004. Israeli forces destroyed their home to punish Abu Daher, who is accused of planning attacks on Israelis. PHOTO/OSAMA SILWADI 6 1 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Since Israel’s 1967 occupation of a financial asset and often the Using structured mental health the West Bank, including Jerusa- property inside it. For the families questionnaires, semi-structured lem and Gaza, it is estimated that surveyed in this study these losses questionnaires of the family’s Israeli civil and military authorities respectively totalled an average demolition experience and socio- have destroyed 24,000 Palestinian of approximately $105,090 and economic conditions, and open homes in the occupied Palestinian $51,261 per family.1 interviews with families, this study territory (OPT). The rate of house depicts a portrait of Palestinian demolitions has risen significantly But the impact goes beyond loss families who have experienced since the second Intifada began in of physical property and economic house demolitions. This depiction September 2000 and, as this study opportunity. This report is unique enables the humanitarian commu- shows, house demolitions have in the connection it makes be- nity to better advocate for an end become a major cause of forced tween the impact of house demoli- to demolitions and, in the interim, displacement in the OPT. tions on children and their families, put in place a comprehensive and and the responsibility of duty bear- coordinated response for families When a home is demolished, a ers to protect and assist. who are facing displacement due family loses both the house as to demolition or other factors.

“They told us that we could return at five o’clock, but where were we supposed to go after they demolished our home? It’s gone. ”

7 The main findings of the Compared to children of similar one-third of the parents were study were: demographics living in the same in danger of developing men- geographical locations, children tal health disorders and some House demolitions cause dis- who have had their home reported that the demolition placement. Fifty-seven percent demolished fare significantly precipitated a decline in their of 56 families surveyed never worse on a range of mental physical health also. returned to their original resi- health indicators, including: dences. Those who did return, withdrawal, somatic complaints, The social support that par- on average, spent over a year depression/anxiety, social diffi- ents receive and their ability to displaced before returning. culties, higher rates of delusion- employ coping strategies for al, obsessive, compulsive and themselves and their children House demolitions are fol- psychotic thoughts, attention (usually determined by proxim- lowed by long periods of difficulties, delinquency, violent ity to the original home and the instability for the family, with behaviour - even six months family’s cultivated network of over half of the families who after the demolition. resources) may mitigate some responded taking at least two of the detrimental effects. years to find a permanent Families also report deteriora- residence. tion in children’s educational Maintaining the mother’s mental achievement and ability to health is particularly crucial for At the time of interviewing, study. children under 12. the average monthly income of families surveyed was NIS1,561 A fundamental factor affecting (USD 355) – well below both the child’s mental health follow- the absolute (deep) and rela- ing demolition is the psycho- tive poverty lines.2 logical state of the parents, yet

8 Based on its findings, the study recommends that all stakeholders-Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the international community and donor governments- act immediately to respond to house demolitions within the OPT by fulfilling their obligations to protect children and their families according to international humanitarian and international human rights law, in particular the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.

In particular, the report’s authors call on Israel, the occupying power in the OPT, to halt the policy of house demolitions, which violates its responsibil- ity to protect the civilian population in accordance with the laws of armed conflict and human rights law.

Alongside advocacy on prevention, the interna- tional community (including donor governments) should support a United Nations-led inter-agency response to alleviate the wide range of health, so- cial and economic problems resulting from house demolitions and the broader problem of forced displacement in the OPT.

9 2 - INTRODUCTION

HOUSE DEMOLITIONS AND INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT IN THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY “Far from being confined to wars that produced hundreds of tion on children and families. a discrete war in 1948, the thousands of refugees and inter- We have asked these families ques- conflict which triggered Pales- nally displaced persons (IDPs). tions related to their economic tinian flight has persisted over status, mental and social health, and six decades… In the occupied But Palestinians, both refugee and the fulfilment of basic needs: food, Palestinian territory, refugees non-refugee, are still being dis- education, and housing. “There are repeatedly displaced in placed today. One of the primary are numerous interacting social, the wake of armed incursions, vehicles for their displacement is psychological and biological fac- home demolitions and air the Israeli policy of house demoli- tors that influence whether people strikes-and even checkpoints tions. develop psychological problems and the separation barrier.” or exhibit resilience in the face of —United Nations Relief and In recent years, ongoing internal adversity,”3 and this study seeks to Works Agency (UNRWA) displacement in the occupied illustrate these various influences. Commissioner General, Jan. 2008 Palestinian territory (OPT) has received increasing attention In addition, the study makes a The demolition of a home not only from international human rights, preliminary assessment of these destroys a physical structure, but humanitarian and development families’ ability to return to their has numerous other consequences: agencies. Nevertheless, monitor- places and communities of origin it tears down the family structure, ing and documentation of internal or resettle to a new community, increases poverty and vulnerability, displacement in the OPT has been and the impediments that may and ultimately displaces a family largely ad hoc, and the numbers of subsequently arise. from the environment that gives it internally displaced and the impact cohesion and support. This has long of displacement on their lives have We are concerned that families term physical and mental health not been systematically recorded. who experience house demoli- consequences. tion fall into a protection abyss, In an effort to contribute to this without a coordinated safety net to While forced displacement is an expanding discussion, our study support them and their additional acknowledged part of Palestinian presents a portrait of families needs. history, it is often discussed as a whose houses have been demol- limited historical phenomenon that ished, emphasizing the mid- and This paper concludes therefore occurred during the Arab-Israeli long-term impact of house demoli- by outlining the basic principles 10 for an appropriate response to The demolition of homes causes house demolitions, making recom- the forced displacement of their mendations for the Israeli govern- Children are deeply impact- residents. In the West Bank alone, ment, the Palestinian Authority, the ed by house demolitions. the destruction of some 3,302 international community and civil homes between 2000 and 2004 society groups, while keeping in In Gaza, 35,224 children meant the displacement of ap- were impacted when 7,342 7 mind the broader framework of proximately 16,510 people. The houses were entirely or forced displacement. Israeli incursion into Jenin Camp partially destroyed by Israeli in 2002 displaced approximately forces between 2000 and HOUSE DEMOLITIONS: 4,000 people. Nearly all of the 232 2007. A BACKGROUNDER people displaced in Nablus over the past two and a half years lost 28% of children surveyed 8 Since Israel’s 1967 occupation of their homes in military operations. in Gaza had witnessed the the West Bank and Gaza Strip, it Tens of thousands of additional demolition of a friend’s homes have been damaged to the is estimated that Israeli civilian and home and nearly 19% had point of being uninhabitable during military authorities have destroyed witnessed the demolition of military incursions. In Gaza, from 24,130 Palestinian homes in the their own home. 2000 to 2007, the partial or total OPT. 4 destruction of 7,342 houses, largely as a result of Israeli military activity, The rate of house demolitions impacted 69,350 residents, among and evictions has risen significantly The United Nations Office for them 34,224 children.9 since the beginning of the second the Coordination of Humanitarian intifada in September 2000. Ac- Affairs (UN OCHA) systematically During 2008, 1,151 Palestinians- cording to the Israeli Commit- began tracking homes demolished including a confirmed 419 children tee against House Demolitions in the OPT in 2006. From that and an additional estimated 194 (ICAHD), between 1994 and 2000 year to July 2008, 989 structures children10 - were displaced or af- when Palestinians and Israelis were were demolished (639 in the West fected11 by the demolition of 156 engaged in negotiations, 740 Pales- Bank and 350 in the Gaza Strip), of residential structures in the OPT.12 tinian homes were demolished in which 52% were residential. While Of these, 87 houses were demol- Israeli military operations. 5 this appears to mark a decline in ished and 404 Palestinians (includ- the number of homes demolished, ing 227 children) were displaced in By comparison, between October ICAHD notes that Israeli authori- East Jerusalem alone.13 In addition, 2000 and 2004, 5,000 homes were ties have demolished increasingly over 4,000 homes were demol- demolished during military opera- larger structures, which house ished between 27 December 2008 tions. 6 more people. and 18 January 2009 during Israel’s 11 military operation in Gaza14 and has been illegally discharged, or at the peak of hostilities, 200,000 60% of 4,100 Palestinian any bomb, grenade or explosive or people were estimated to be houses demolished between incendiary article illegally thrown, or of displaced-among them 112,000 the years 2000 and 2004 were any house, structure or land situated 15 children. demolished in military ‘clearing’ in any area, town, village, quarter or operations. street the inhabitants or some of the In a 2008 Gaza study, 28 percent inhabitants of which he is satisfied of children surveyed had witnessed 25% were destroyed for lack have committed, or attempted to the demolition of a friend’s home of building permits. commit, or abetted the commission and nearly 19 percent had wit- of, or been accessories after the fact nessed the demolition of their own 15% were destroyed to punish to the commission of, any offence 16 home. accused militants. against these Regulations involving vi- olence or intimidation or any Military WHY ARE HOUSES Court offence; and when any house, DEMOLISHED? demolished, they are usually de- structure or land is forfeited as afore- molished without prior warning.19 said, the Military Commander may Various explanations are given In some cases, residents were not destroy the house or the structure or by Israeli authorities for the de- able or were not given the oppor- anything growing on the land.21 molition of Palestinian homes. tunity to evacuate and died in the The Israeli human rights group building’s collapse.20 The Israeli Supreme Court regards B’Tselem documented the official the Defence (Emergency) Regula- reasons given for the demolition SECURITY RATIONALE tions as a section of Israeli local of over 4,100 Palestinian houses in When demolishing houses of Pal- law, despite the fact that they were the OPT between 2000 and 2004. estinians suspected of committing rescinded at the end of the British Sixty percent were demolished security offences, Israeli authorities Mandate.22 Israeli authorities began in ‘clearing operations’ (i.e. mass refer to article 119 (1) of the 1945 applying those regulations to the demolitions); 25 percent were Defence (Emergency) Regulations OPT in 1967.23 destroyed for the lack of build- approved by the British govern- ing permits; and 15 percent were ment at the time of the British ADMINISTRATIVE destroyed as punishment against Mandate in Palestine: RATIONALE accused militants.17 In this latter Due to restrictive zoning and case, 32 percent of the individuals A Military Commander may by order urban planning, bureaucratic and were in Israeli detention, 21 per- direct the forfeiture by the Govern- financial obstacles, Palestinians seek cent were ‘wanted’, and 47 percent ment of Palestine of any house, to resolve urgent housing needs by were already dead.18 When the structure, or land from which he has building without an official permit, homes of suspected militants are reason to suspect that any firearm despite the risk of subsequent 12 demolition. Three-hundred and by Israeli authorities, compared to the same building. The demolition twenty-five homes, over half (184) only 30 Israeli-owned buildings. of one structure therefore, or col- of them in Jerusalem, were demol- lective demolitions within a defined ished in the West Bank due to the Many families continue to live with area, can destroy not just the family lack of building permits between the threat of displacement through domicile but also each nuclear the years 2004 and mid-2007, ac- house demolition. In 2005, there family’s most immediate source of cording to B’Tselem. 24 were more than 10,000 outstand- support and social capital. ing demolition orders for Palestin- Throughout the West Bank, but ian homes in East Jerusalem alone.27 When a house is demolished, indi- in Jerusalem in particular, observ- viduals must cope with the trauma ers note clear discrimination in WHAT HAPPENS WHEN in an environment of family trauma, the application of building regu- A HOUSE IS DEMOLISHED? which makes it much more difficult lations and punishment meted to receive the needed care. For out. Between 1996 and 2000, for Once a home is demolished, the children, who would normally be example, the number of recorded family loses both the house as a protected and cared for by their building violations was four and a financial asset and often the prop- parents, the initial trauma is magni- half times higher in Israeli neigh- erty inside it; in addition it is liable fied. bourhoods of Jerusalem (17,382 for the costs of the house demoli- violations) than in Palestinian tion which can run up to tens of Depression, for instance, is one neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem thousands of dollars. To avoid these prevalent symptom after the ex- (3,846 violations). But the number costs, Palestinians subject to ad- perience of trauma, especially one of demolition orders over this pe- ministrative house demolitions may of loss. One study published on riod issued in West Jerusalem was “opt” to undertake the demolition the psychological impact of house four times less (86 orders) than of their own home and pay a small- demolition showed a tendency the number in East Jerusalem (348 er fine in a deal with authorities. It among mothers in these families to orders). 25 is not known how many Palestin- develop symptoms of depression.29 ians choose this route; however, Other studies have discussed the “In other words, while over 80 ICAHD fears that their numbers impact on children of parental de- percent of building violations were rival those whose homes are de- pression. They show that children recorded in West Jerusalem, 80 molished by the authorities. 28 tend to experience behavioural percent of actual demolition orders and emotional disturbances30 when were issued for buildings in Palestin- The demolition of inhabited struc- parents are not able to meet the ian East Jerusalem,” according to the tures may affect many families at a children’s needs due to distraction World Bank.26 Between 1999 and time. Often in the OPT, the entire with their own. 2003, 157 Palestinian-owned build- extended family lives in close prox- ings were demolished in Jerusalem imity to one another, and even in 13 HOW DO HOUSE Palestinians and semi-nomadic regardless, as Palestinians try to DEMOLITIONS Bedouin living between the Wall (a meet their housing needs; between IMPACT COMMUNITIES? series of cement walls, barbed wire January 2000 and September 2007, and “smart” fencing being con- 5,000 demolition orders were PROTECTED PERSONS structed in the West Bank by Israel) issued and over 1,600 Palestinian House demolitions frequently and the 1948 “Green Line” that buildings were demolished.33 impact Palestinian refugees and demarcates the boundary between internally displaced persons, as well Israel and the OPT. Ma’an Develop- In the Gaza Strip, the creation of a as other protected groups. Palestin- ment Centre has also identified an 500-metre to one-kilometre wide ian refugees comprise the largest additional 98 enclaves or areas in military ‘buffer zone’ along the and longest-standing unresolved the West Bank where communities Egyptian border has transformed refugee case in the world today. are surrounded by the Wall and former residential areas into mili- In 2007, there were an estimated settlements, or other Israeli infra- tary no-go zones. 34 Sixteen thou- seven million Palestinian refugees structure, in a manner that restricts sand people in the southern Gaza worldwide and 450,000 internally Palestinian movement. The 312,810 Strip town of Rafah—more than displaced persons (IDPs) in Israel Palestinians living in these enclaves 10 percent of its population—had and the OPT.31 are particularly vulnerable to inter- lost their homes by 2004.35 In June nal displacement, in part because 2006, as many as 5,100 Palestin- The rights of Palestinian refugees they are more likely to have their ians were displaced in a series of and IDPs are guaranteed under homes demolished. Israeli military incursions in the international human rights and hu- Gaza Strip.36 manitarian law, which includes the The 1993 Oslo agreements signed Fourth Geneva Convention, the between Israel and Palestinians THE BEDOUIN UN Guiding Principles on Internal designated 60 percent of the West Displacement, UN General Assem- Bank as Area C, which falls under “In September 2007 the bly Resolution 194, and UN Secu- Israeli civil and security control. Special Rapporteur visited Al rity Council Resolution 237. Over 94% of applications for build- Hadidiya in the Jordan Val- ing permits in Palestinian commu- ley where the structures of a COMMUNITIES AT RISK nities located in these areas were Bedouin community of some In 2008, UN agencies confirmed denied by Israeli authorities be- 200 families, comprising 6,000 that 198 communities in the OPT tween January 2000 and Septem- people, living near to the Jewish currently face forced displace- ber 2007. (Prior to the late-1970s settlement of Roi, were demol- ment because of their proximity to when Israel began its settlement ished by the IDF. This brought settlements or their locations within enterprise in the OPT, permits back memories of the practice so-called closed military zones. This to build were readily granted to in apartheid South Africa of includes 81 communities of 260,000 Palestinians.)32 Building continues 14 destroying black villages unlicensed homes was criticized as dominate. The Bedouin also are (termed “black spots”) that “discriminatory” in a 2007 Human largely ignored by the Palestinian were too close to white Rights Watch report which called Authority,41 increasing their vulner- residents. Article 53 of the for a moratorium on the policy. 37 ability. As a group on the margins Fourth Geneva Convention now facing house demolition and prohibits the destruction of While our report focuses on the evictions, the Bedouin represent personal property ‘except OPT, studies of house demolitions the worst case scenario of house where such destruction is in the Negev reflect similar impacts demolition and displacement. rendered absolutely neces- on children. “House demolition is sary by military operations’.” a traumatic and difficult event for —The UN Special Rap- all the members of the family,” said porteur on the situation of Alean al-Krenawi in an opinion human rights in the Palestin- written for Physicians for Human ian territories occupied since Rights. “The existence of the home 1967, 21 January 2008. fills a vital and basic need for chil- dren, and its absence impairs the development of safe and adaptive The Israeli policy of house demo- relationships.”38 lition has had particular conse- quences for the Bedouin popula- Bedouin who were displaced to tion inside Israel and the OPT. Tens the West Bank face a similar dilem- of thousands of Bedouin, indig- ma.39 It is estimated that there are enous Palestinian residents of the 6,000 Bedouin families in the West Negev (Naqab) before the state Bank. As Israel expands strategic of Israel was created, live in com- settlements in the Jerusalem area, munities unrecognized by Israel. Bedouin living in open areas are Nearly 40 percent of the residents increasingly vulnerable to demoli- of the unrecognized villages in tion orders and eviction.40 the Negev are under the age of nine. Construction in these villages Moreover, when displaced, the is prohibited. As a result, 45,000 Bedouin have limited coping structures have been built ‘illegally’ resources. They are reliant upon in southern Israel, according to herding with few opportunities for the Israeli Ministry of Interior, and other income-raising activities. They could be ordered demolished. The have little social standing in an escalating practice of demolishing area where urban class structures 15 RELATED INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN AND HUMAN RIGHTS LAW

Fourth Geneva Convention

Article 53 Any destruction by the Occupying Power of real or personal property belonging individually or collectively to private persons, or to the State, or to other public authorities, or to social or cooperative organizations, is pro- hibited, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations.

Article 33 No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penal- ties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited; Pillage is prohibited; Reprisals against protected persons and their property are prohibited.

Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement 1. Every human being shall have the right to be protected against being arbitrarily displaced from his or her home or place of habitual residence.

2. The prohibition of arbitrary displacement includes displacement:

(a) When it is based on policies of apartheid, “ethnic cleansing” or similar practices aimed at/or resulting in altering the ethnic, religious or racial composition of the affected population;

(b) In situations of armed conflict, unless the security of the civilians involved or imperative military reasons so demand;

(c) In cases of large-scale development projects, which are not justified by compelling and overriding public interests;

(d) In cases of disasters, unless the safety and health of those affected requires their evacuation; and

(e) When it is used as a collective punishment.

3. Displacement shall last no longer than required by the circumstances.

16 Convention on the Rights of the Child

Article 9 1. States Parties shall ensure that a child shall not be separated from his or her parents against their will…

Article 24 1. States Parties recognize the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health... States Parties shall strive to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access to such health care ser- vices.

Article 27 1. States Parties recognize the right of every child to a standard of living adequate for the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development…

3. States Parties, in accordance with national conditions and within their means, shall take appropriate measures to assist parents and others responsible for the child to implement this right and shall in case of need provide material assistance and support programmes, particularly with regard to nutrition, clothing and housing.

Article 28 1. States Parties recognize the right of the child to education, and with a view to achieving this right progressively and on the basis of equal opportunity…

Article 31 1. States Parties recognize the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.

Article 38 1. States Parties undertake to respect and to ensure respect for rules of international humanitarian law applicable to them in armed conflicts which are relevant to the child…

4. In accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect the civilian population in armed conflicts, States Parties shall take all feasible measures to ensure protection and care of children who are affected by an armed conflict.

17 3 - STUDYING THE IMPACT OF HOUSE DEMOLITIONS ON CHILDREN & FAMILIES

ABOUT THIS STUDY lition, and open interviews with HOUSE DEMOLITIONS: families. (For a detailed description THE DAY OF AND THE DAY Many studies have been conducted of the survey methodology, see the AFTER on the policy of house demoli- Annex.) tion in the OPT. Most have been The data collected illustrates the primarily legal studies, combining Full profiles were collected from transformation in the families be- theory, description and analysis and 56 families whose houses were de- tween the time of the demolition sidelining practical assessment of molished by Israeli military forces and the study interview, looking individual responses and needs.42 A between the years 2000 and 2006, at socio-economic factors, health significant number of papers have except for two families whose needs, assistance provided, as well been written on the psychological houses were demolished in 1992 as mental health developments: impact of house demolition and its and 1994. (Fifty-nine families were ON THE effect on children or adults.43 Yet, approached in this study and 58 DAY OF THE DEMOLITION none have taken a ‘whole person’ families provided detailed socio- approach, tackling the policy’s economic profiles, while 56 families A Portrait impact on the individual, his or her gave detailed information on the of Families Surveyed family and the wider socio-eco- demolition of their home.) “We had at our home swings, roses, nomic environment. In addition, open interviews were fig trees-everything was gone. There were a lot of memories [there]… This study draws a portrait of carried out with seven of the Right after the holiday feast, our Palestinian families who have families surveyed. The interviews house was demolished.” experienced house demolitions, were carried out with a family from —Duha, 15, Ramallah describing their needs and cop- Rafah; the parents and two children ing mechanisms in order to make of a family from Ramallah; a mother On the day their home was de- recommendations for an appro- and her daughter from Bethlehem; molished, the number of people priate coordinated humanitarian a father from Bethlehem; and two present in the homes of families response. To do so, it uses struc- children from two different families interviewed were 237 children tured mental health questionnaires, and a mother from a third family under 18 years of age (123 male semi-structured questionnaires of from Jenin refugee camp. and 114 female) and 198 adults the family’s socio-economic condi- (98 male and 100 female). Three tions and the events of the demo- of the children were under three months old, three children 18 were between three and six 39% of the families (23) were demolished. Most of the family was months old, and eight children from refugee camps, 37% living in a rented apartment and Ah- were between six months and were from towns (22), and mad was there when he heard that one year old. 24% (14) were from villages. the Israeli military had surrounded his old home and ordered all the The average number of family “Previously our life was better than it residents outside. The soldiers kept members living in the houses is today. They took my father and de- calling on Ahmad’s [adult] son to on the day of the demolition molished our house. Our house now come out or they would destroy the (the above numbers include is like the one before it, but without house, but the father felt sure that visitors and extended family) my toys and storybooks that I used his son was not inside. was 8.4. An average of 66% to read. All our things were charred (5.5) of family members were and burnt, and our house and our Only after the house was demol- under 18. neighbor’s house were spilling open ished was his son’s body found in the in front of each other after the de- rubble. Subsequently, the elderly man On the day of the demolition, molition. I used to sit by myself and refused to leave the house, stopped there were ten pregnant wom- imagine it as it was in my memory, participating in social events, didn’t go to work and ended his hobby as en present (three were more but it was hard sometimes to imag- a referee in the local football league. than six months pregnant, five ine it like before. When I went back He told interviewers: “I didn’t care were in-between the third and after the demolition, I could hardly that the house was demolished, or fifth month of pregnancy and look at it and so I left and sat on the even for the neighbors, only that this two women were in the early street below.” time my beloved son was lost. My —Saji, 13, Bethlehem stages of pregnancy). mental state was terrible. My wife At the time of demolition, became ill psychologically. We are not THE a family now, but destroyed. They op- there were four adults suf- DEMOLITION PROCESS pressed us when they immorally and fering from poor health and illegally killed my son, as he sat in his critical disabilities present; two Destruction of Property, own home.” suffering from failing eyesight, Arrests & Physical Injury one was mentally disabled and another had cancer. Ahmad, in his 50s, experienced the House demolitions are often demolition of his Bethlehem-area accompanied by injuries, ar- Three people suffering from home twice. His family’s house was rests and even the death of disabilities or chronic diseases first demolished in June 2004 in a family members. Severe health were injured during the course military operation. Two years later, problems can follow the of the Israeli military demoli- in November 2006, the house was trauma of house demolition. tion of their home. issued a demolition order and again 19 41% of the 56 homes studied Arrests occurred during seven “Even the things that we got out were said to be demolished demolitions. of the house were shredded and for military reasons, 27% de- damaged because the soldiers shot molished as a punitive mea- The family of Duha, 15, unwittingly at them. My mother kept some of sure, and 13% demolished for rented out an apartment in their her shredded clothes as keepsakes. alleged lack of building permits. building to a wanted man. One night, After that, we ran away. They told us The 11 remaining houses the Israeli military arrived and soldiers that we could return at five o’clock, were demolished for unknown told her family and the other resi- but where were we supposed to go reasons. dents to leave. The families waited in after they demolished our home? It’s suspense for hours. Duha was in an gone.” Over half (52%) of the homes apartment across the street. Only 13% of the 56 families of the 56 families in our survey “I was so afraid and terrified,” she said they were able to remove were demolished in a collec- told interviewers. “It was the first belongings from the home tive demolition, where a series time I was afraid this way. I couldn’t before it was demolished.44 of homes or a neighbourhood stand it. My nephew was with me, was razed. too. I tried to talk to him to pass the All of the families surveyed lost time and ignore what was happening property. The average losses Palestinians were injured in outside with the soldiers. I decided incurred in the demolition 22 of the house demolition to stop crying. I kept myself calm by of these buildings were esti- events. Three of the inju- playing with my nephew.” By morn- mated at JD73,490 (approx. ries were incurred by family ing, soldiers had shot and killed the $105,090). The average losses members to whom the homes wanted man. But they were not incurred in destroyed posses- belonged. finished-they planned to demolish sions and building contents the apartment building to punish the were estimated at JD35,847 One family member was killed family. “[When] we asked the soldiers (approx. $51,261) per family. during the demolition, and one to allow us to get some things before woman died from injuries in- they demolished our house, they curred during the demolition. refused,” Duha remembered. “After a while, they allowed my Families reported debilitat- brother and two of my youngest “My wife became ill ing changes in family mem- sisters to go inside to get our things. psychologically. We are bers’ physical health-including They refused to let my other sister not a family now, but stroke, diabetes, and high get her identity card. We lost 300 blood pressure-following the shekels that belonged to my sister; destroyed. demolition of their homes. my sister-in-law lost her money and ” her gold. 20 FOLLOWING “When we first left [the demolished my son—he shouts and cries. He is THE DEMOLITION house], my daughter asked me, now ten years old, and it affects his ‘Where are we going to go?’” Amal studies. When he opens a book, he Displacement recalled. “Houses aren’t important, keeps it open on the same page. & Insecurity but the children were hard-hit psy- Before the fear and what happened chologically. I have a son entering first to my husband, they did better aca- Amal lives in Bethlehem and is the grade who was sleeping next to his demically and got good grades. When wife of detainee Isam Baker. Her sisters when the soldiers came. They I asked about my son Bilal in 2nd house was demolished to punish grabbed him right away, and he saw grade, the teachers used to say that her husband who was, at that time, the soldiers and was afraid. Now at he answers right away. he was get- wanted by Israeli authorities and in night, he wakes up crying. When he ting 95s, but now only with difficulty hiding. wants something, it is like he is not will he not repeat the year.”

Study families compared to the average palestinian family

21 Immediately after the house demolition, only two families of 56 were able to remain in their Immediately after the demolition, most families are forced to homes (these homes were only find housing wherever they can, either crowding together or 45 partially demolished). breaking up the family unit.

- 20 of the other families went 57% of the 56 families interviewed whose homes were demol- to live with relatives. ished never returned to their original residences.

- 19 families rented apart- Half of those who did not return said that Israeli forces pre- ments, three stayed in tents, vented them from returning. Others said the original home one was housed in a hospital was not safe. and another in a school, one reported being in the ‘street’. Urban residents may find it easier to return to their homes than do refugee camp residents or villagers. - This led to crowded living conditions, with one family cramming 30 people in one room. The average number of people in a room in this initial my brother’s house. The next day in to get electricity, and we fixed up period was 4.9. (In 2008, the the morning (it has been one year the place and brought in mattresses. Palestinian Bureau of Statistics and two months now) we moved to Of course, the container is not large put average housing density in a [temporary housing] container - we enough for one mattress per person. the OPT at 1.7 per room.) got three containers. It was difficult We had more than one container- to stay at my brother’s house because one for sleeping, one for food and Duha’s mother described the fam- they are a big family and we are a as a kitchen, and one for visitors. We ily’s new living conditions after Israeli big family. Living in the container is used to relieve ourselves outside. We soldiers demolished their Ramallah hell. Animals lived in the containers cannot take a shower. We used to home to punish them for renting an before us. I wish it was better. It was sit on cardboard.” apartment to a wanted Palestinian. difficult during summer and winter. A snake came by my legs as I hung the 57% of the 56 families sur- “No one wants to lease us an apart- clothes up to dry. There is no electric- veyed never returned to their ment because we are 15 people - 10 ity and there is no bathroom. original residence. girls and three boys and me and my husband,” she said. The night the My husband made a makeshift toilet - Of those who did not return, building was demolished we went to next to the container. We were able half (15 families) said that the 22 Israeli military authorities pre- Ahmad’s Bethlehem home was vented them from returning destroyed twice. “There was no op- (seven in Gaza, six in the West portunity to remove our furniture,” House demolitions are fol- Bank and two in Jerusalem). 46 recalled Ahmad, “and we had 15 lowed by long periods of minutes to get our important pa- instability for the family. - Of the remaining families pers. It was so difficult-we had no who did not return, 10 said recourse, no court [of appeal], no 71% of the 56 families that the area was not secure, choice but to see our home demol- moved at least twice before two found better employment ished. That night we slept in the settling in a place of resi- in a different area, one found street, since the soldiers turned the dence after the demolition assistance elsewhere, and one place into a closed military area. [Af- of their home. remained living with their terwards], we stayed with family and extended family. the neighbours - by god, we spread Most families took at least ourselves between aunts and uncles. two years to find a perma- - Half of those who eventually The family was dispersed, and this nent place of residence. returned to their reconstruct- deeply affected us.” ed homes were from towns, 17% of families (all of them 36% were from refugee camps, 71% of the 56 families moved in the Gaza Strip) changed and 14% were from villages. at least twice before settling in their children’s school after a place of residence after the their house was demolished. - Most of the families surveyed demolition of their home. were from refugee camps, and were unable to return to a - 20 families moved twice, 12 permanent residence after the reconstructed home. The study moved three times, five moved day of demolition.48 indicates that urban residents four times, two families moved may find it easier than others five times and one family - Nine families experienced to return to their reconstructed moved seven times. more than four years of transi- homes after the demolition of tion (with the majority still not their houses. Palestinian urban - Two families did not move at stable in their residence at the areas are usually administered all, and 14 families moved just time of the interview). by Palestinian authorities and once after the demolition of experience less interference their home. - Eight families experienced from the Israeli military than three to four years of housing border regions in Gaza or Area 61% of the families surveyed instability; four families expe- C in the West Bank, as de- experienced at least two years rienced two to three years; scribed earlier in this report.47 of moving before finding a ten families experienced from 23 one to two years; six families Educational Data collection for the study took from half a year to one year; Changes & Decline place in the summer of 2007, ten families from one month which did not allow us to collect to half a year of instability; and Saji, age 13, was 11 when her Bethle- information from schools, but the four families experienced less hem house was demolished. “We were testimonies of children and their than one month of instability. down by the mosque and heard the families indicate that most children sound of the explosion,” she recalled. who have experienced a house - Even families who eventu- “We sat for an hour outside and it demolition have seen a subsequent ally returned to the site of was really cold and I was afraid-very decline in school achievement. As their demolished homes afraid. When I heard the sound of noted above, a significant number experienced an average of 13 the demolition, I became fearful and of children are forced to change months displacement before angry. I started to cry. Then we went schools after the demolition of returning. out and saw the apartment destroyed. their home. I was sad afterward. We went to the 26% of families experienced old house in the refugee camp, but “All our things are gone. There is no the separation of one or more I wasn’t happy in that house. Things money. We were absent from school family members from the fam- were normal; my uncles helped us, for one week because we lost our ily unit after the demolition of school uniforms, our books and our their home, affecting 50 of the supporting my father until we had clothes. Our teachers brought me a children surveyed. 49 rebuilt the house and moved back. But I regressed in my studies. I stopped school uniform and a bag - at first, I was going to school wearing slip- 45% (25) families (at the time studying and concentrating, although pers.” —Duha, 15, Ramallah of the study) were living in slowly got better. The demolition also houses that they owned, 38% affected my friends at school and my (21) families were living in relationships. I didn’t like to talk to any- rented houses, 11% (six) were one because I didn’t want any of them living in houses belonging to to ask me what happened.” the extended family and 7% (four) were living in houses be- 17% of families put their 46 “At first, I was longing to the United Nations children in different schools fol- going to school Relief and Works Agency that lowing the demolition of their wearing slippers. provides services to Palestinian homes. All of these families refugees. were from the Gaza Strip. ”

24 ON THE DAY OF THE economic status was good, and “I get angry when they ask me what STUDY INTERVIEW 41% said theirs was average. I have cooked. I tell them ‘lentils’, and some days ‘rice with lentils’. They Information gathered on the day - Average monthly fam- tell us that their stomachs now have of the study interview was used ily income at the time of the roots from the lentils. What can I do? to assess the socio-economic and interview was NIS1,561 (USD This is what is available. ‘Your father mental health status of the families 355).50 cannot work; he is disabled and I do studied post-house demolition. not work and you are studying. Who In 2006, the absolute (deep) then can support you?’ This is what Poverty poverty line and the relative I tell them… We are forced to take & Economic Hardship poverty line for the average them out of school so that they can household of six people in work. The work is hard—it is too “There is no income and no money. the OPT stood at a monthly difficult for them. But children need We wish we could leave, and make income of less than 1,837 NIS support—they need food and they a change. Even my father is starting (USD 414) and 2,300 NIS need school bags… I feel that I am to think about selling the [containers] (USD 518) respectively. The tired and suffocating. I feel stinging and leaving the country. Our econom- first refers to a budget for food, pains in my chest and I am not at ic condition and our housing are not clothing and housing, while the ease. What can I do except cry? good. We are getting nervous… I feel second adds other necessities What can I do? Go beg?”—Duha’s extremely claustrophobic. The situ- such as health care, education, mother, Ramallah ation is getting worse; we can’t stay transportation, personal care 51 this way, living in a container… In the and housekeeping supplies. Lack of Assistance winter, the situation was worse. We used to heat with firewood. We could The percentage of unemploy- “No organization offered to help. At not have a shower or do anything. ment among the male adults the beginning, UNRWA offered— Everything smelled smoky, including was 19.8%. Among female adults, the unemployment rate they brought us some food, flour our clothes.”—Duha, 15, Ramallah was 4.1%, since 73.1% of the and lentils and beans, blankets and women identified themselves kitchen supplies. The Palestinian 57% of the 56 families sur- as homemakers and are not Counselling Center helped us with veyed described their eco- part of the regular labour force. the children. The Red Cross brought nomic status as poor or very Average unemployment in the us some mattresses and blankets; poor. OPT in 2007 was 21.5%. they were not wool.” —Duha’s mother, Ramallah - Only 2% of the families de- Seven children under the age scribed their economic status of 18 had jobs. as excellent, 10% said their 25 14 families reported receiving Red Cross came, but I wasn’t there. The child’s experience of the assistance from organizations They recorded the usual: what did demolition of his or her home (governmental organizations we need them to give us? A tent and may, therefore, result in long-term included) and eight families house wares. But I had the house trauma. reported receiving assistance in the camp, and the governorate from their extended families. helped us to rent an apartment and Almost 80 percent of the 103 the neighbours helped us pay the children for whom data was avail- 22 families reported that the rent.”—Saji’s mother, Bethlehem able witnessed the demolition of International Committee for their homes (82 vs. 21). There was the Red Cross (ICRC) arrived Declining no difference between the mental on the scene after demolition; Mental Health health of these children and those 14 reported that the UNRWA who did not see their home de- was there; eight reported the How Children molished. arrival of Palestinian Author- Respond When Their Home is Demolished ity ministry representatives; six Nor did girls and boys exhibit no- table differences in mental health reported the arrival of various “The house is goodness, and good- non-governmental organiza- indicators, in either the control ness ended with its demolition. Our group or among children whose tions or political parties; three health is lost, our children changed houses were demolished.53 reported more than one orga- for the worse.”—father, Ramallah nization at once (unspecified); Older children did not appear to one family reported a response When children whose home has be better protected against the from nobody and two did not been demolished were compared psychological trauma of house 52 answer the question. with a control group using mental demolitions than their younger health questionnaires, all indicators peers. “After the demolition, I waited showed comparably worse mental for the morning and took my health among the first group, even children and returned to the six months after the time of the refugee camp. My leg was hurt- demolition (see table below). ing me and I couldn’t stand. The

26 Table on Mental Health Findings - Children

Withdrawal Children whose houses were demolished are more “I do not like to hear loud noises or the voices of chil- withdrawn than other children, preferring to remain dren; I love to stay by myself and to sleep.” alone or stay quiet in the presence of others. —girl, Bethlehem

Somatic Complaints Children whose houses were demolished complain “I feel I’m suffocating.” —boy, Ramallah more than other children of somatic complaints such as dizziness, pain in various parts of the body, and “I was coming from school crying to my mother, telling problems in breathing without any known cause. her that my tummy hurts, crying and refusing to eat or drink.”—girl, Rafah

Anxiety/Depression Children whose houses were demolished suffer from “My heart has become black in colour.” anxiety and depression more than other children. —girl, Ramallah They cry more, are afraid to go to school, feel they are not loved or that others are bad to them, feel guilty, nervous and are very tense.

Social Problems Children whose houses were demolished suffer more than other children from social problems such as dif- ficulty relating to other children, greater attachment to adults, age inappropriate behaviour, or preferring to remain with younger children.

Delusions, Obsessions, & Other Problems Children whose houses were demolished exhibit de- “I took photos of the house on my mobile while [it was] lusional, obsessive, compulsive, and psychotic thoughts being demolished and I keep replaying it to see it falling. more often than other children. I like to see it because it reminds me of that house. I remember the old days, those sweet days.” —boy, Ramallah 27 Attention Difficulties Children whose houses were demolished have a hard- “My daughter says, ‘I study and study, but in the exam er time concentrating than do other children. They are when the teacher asks me I forget.’” overactive, under-motivated, easily confused and quick —mother, Bethlehem to lose focus and daydream.

“I cannot concentrate in my studies. Today, I mean, I can- Many of these symptoms are indicative of mental ill- not concentrate and I do not like to study.” ness including depression. —boy, Ramallah.

“They see photos of demolition and cannot focus. She is in 12th grade, but failed. There is no way to study. There is no place to study.” —mother, Ramallah

Delinquency Children whose houses were demolished tend more towards delinquency than other children, for example, hanging out with troublemakers, lying and stealing, not showing remorse and running away.

Violent Behaviour Children whose houses were demolished exhibit vio- “They are driving me crazy. They do not listen to me at lent behaviour more than other children, for example, all; I do everything by shouting and yelling at them.” not responding to others’ requests at home and —mother, Bethlehem school, destroying their property and that of others, acting brusquely with others, fighting frequently and “I scream at them, and hit them [my brothers and demanding attention. sisters]. I was not like this in the past. I become agitated very quickly.”—her daughter, Bethlehem.

“Their morals have changed. They hit each other; they do not tolerate each other anymore. They are over-sensitive and violent with each other.”—mother, Ramallah

Other Symptoms Parents report bedwetting, thumb-sucking, inappro- priate sexual behaviour and other behaviours more frequently among families whose homes were demol- ished. 28 A Palestinian girl east of Jabalia refugee camp walks near a home flattened by Israeli bombardment in the Dec. 2008 - Jan.. 2009 war in Gaza.PHOTO/O. DAMO 29 Impact on Adolescents addition to the recording of their the demolition of their home (see parents’ observations about them. table below). Adolescents in the study were The results echo the findings about asked directly how they felt, in all children who have experienced

Table on Mental Health Findings - Adolescents

Trauma-Related symptoms Adolescents whose homes have been demolished “I dream a lot that the army has come into the house suffer from more trauma-related symptoms than their and wants to hit me... I cannot sleep sometimes because peers. The evidence of this effect is present even six I remember our house.” months after the event. —boy, Ramallah

“We were afraid after the demolition. We could not sleep. I was afraid sometimes, that while we were sleep- ing, I would find the house demolished over my head. I was always tense... and I used to cry.” —girl, Rafah

Sense of Family Adolescents whose houses were demolished ex- pressed feeling less family coherence than their peers: they felt that family events and their way of life were less comprehensible, more difficult to manage, and less meaningful than did adolescents in the control group.54 In other words, the family after a home de- molition is less able to help the adolescent understand events, manage daily issues, provide meaning, and fulfil children’s needs.

30 The Parent-Child Relation- adolescents who select their psy- ditions and socio-economic factors ship for Children Under 12 chological resources from a wider following the demolition of home environment, including friends, results, our study shows, in rising Children under age 12 are more school and the neighbourhood. tension between the parents and attached to their parents, unlike The interplay of mental health con- their children (see table below).

Table on Mental Health Findings - Parent-Child Relationship

Distractibility and Hyperactivity Increased distractibility and hyperactivity in children whose homes have been demolished increases ten- sion in the child’s relationship with his or her parents.

Demanding Behaviour Families of children whose homes have been demol- “I never [used to] refuse their demands, but I cannot ished feel that their children are more demanding help it. It is a horrible feeling when they ask for some- than do families in the control group. This increases thing and I cannot afford. I become angry or start to tension in the family, as parents struggle to meet their scream at them. What can I do? It is really beyond my own mental health needs and resolve new, difficult capabilities.”—father, Ramallah economic realities.

“The way we deal with our children has changed; when my daughter asks for a shekel, and I do not have a penny [to give her] it breaks my heart. How should I feel when I cannot give her even one shekel to buy what she wants?”—mother, Ramallah

Depression Parents whose homes have been demolished suffer “I felt my chest hurt, and I don’t feel good. I cannot do from melancholy and depression more than adults in anything but cry. I feel comforted when I cry, what else the control group. This detrimentally impacts their abil- can I do?”—mother, Ramallah ity to parent, adding to their frustration and distress and exacerbating depression.

31 Health Families of children who have had their homes demol- “Our health conditions are poor. My mother–in-law had ished suffer more from health problems than the con- a stroke after the event, and I suffered from diabetes. trol group. This places greater demands on the family My husband suffered from diabetes and [high blood] unit, diminishes the parents’ sense of self, self-worth pressure, then he had a stroke due to these conditions. I and competence, engenders a sense of failure and never thought that I would suffer from diabetes.” aggravates the problems in the relationships between —mother, Ramallah parents and their children.

“My father suffered from a stroke and stayed in bed. He became very tense and could not stand any of us. The relationship between my siblings and I changed, and we started to say words we had never used before.” —daughter, Ramallah

The study found that the greatest “Their mother then began to suffer The Relationship Between sources of tension in the home from nightmares. When she is sleep- the Parents were—for children—their feelings ing at night, she starts screaming.” of being neglected by their parents —father, Rafah “It was a large building. But at the and—for parents—an increase in time of the demolition, what hap- depression. It is clear that parents “More than anything, I have become pened happened only to me. Only I in families who have experienced very agitated and my nerves are collapsed, and after two days I felt the demolition of their home re- extremely on edge.”—mother, Jenin a sharp pain in my leg. I have been quire psychosocial support to help bothered by it for four years, and them meet their own needs and Parents feel great loss after the should have had an operation but those of their children. demolition of their home. Never- I was pregnant. I used to take 14 theless, they remain responsible for aspirin a day, but I didn’t get better. I How Parents Respond when child care, as well as handling the stayed day and night going and com- their Home is Demolished basic demands of daily life. ing and wide awake from the pain. The reason for this was that I never “One of the most difficult things [to The study found that 97% (92 shouted and never cried, so it [the experience] is to be in a house, then out of 95) of mothers and fathers pain] came out that way.” to be on the pavement. How can whose homes were demolished —mother, Bethlehem this be true? There is no clothing, no suffer from trauma-related symp- money... There is no money to buy toms. The study found that if one parent anything.”—mother, Ramallah whose house has been demolished 32 exhibits severe symptoms of men- veyed and their correlation to the relationship. Adolescents report tal illness, the other parent is also mother’s psychological state. that they feel congruity and a sense likely to experience severe symp- Other research has shown that a of family (i.e. personal and fam- toms. This apparent correlation mother’s ability to appropriately ily coherence) at the same time may be attributable to common nurture and care for children has that their father says he receives features of the trauma that both serious implications for their short support from his environment. In parents experienced, or to other medium and long-term neuro bio- other words, the support that the unknown factors. logical wellbeing. This has measur- father receives from within and able effects on the development of beyond the family impacts the fam- Having a family member with a children’s and adolescents’ brains ily, providing an atmosphere where severe physical or mental illness that can adversely affect them for adolescents feel their world makes imposes additional stresses that life unless remedial treatment is sense despite the trauma of the can exacerbate predispositions to provided.55 house demolition. mental illness. In Palestinian society, the mother is In turn, social support, according to Prevention: often the primary guardian of the the study, is a protective factor for Parents’ Mental Health children and thus has great influ- teenagers in hard times, ameliorat- ence over them and their emo- ing the severity of post-traumatic A significant factor in the mental tions. Maintaining the mother’s stress symptoms. health of children is the psychologi- mental health is a major factor cal wellbeing of the parents. Our in maintaining the child’s mental Further, social support plays a study found that the psychological health, especially in times of trag- crucial role in protecting parents wellbeing of the mother has far edy and insecurity. against the psychological conse- more impact on children than quences of house demolitions, in the father’s psychological wellbe- Despite the lack of a direct cor- particular avoidance, depression, ing. Similar results were observed relation between the psychologi- and psychosis. in the severity of trauma-related cal health of the father and child, symptoms of the adolescents sur- there are indicators of an indirect

33 4 - WHAT IS BEING DONE?

Current responses to displace- In an effort to address these ment pressures. In Al Aqaba village ment, both as a result of house weaknesses, as part of the UN-led in the Jordan Valley, donor invest- demolition or other causes, can Protection Cluster, a Displacement ment in education, health, water, be described as both ad hoc and Working Group was formed in late agriculture, infrastructure, and liveli- inconsistent, as significant gaps exist 2007 through which UN agencies hoods has been identified by resi- related to the protection of IDPs and non-governmental organiza- dents as supporting those people and assistance for IDPs within the tions (international, Palestinian and who still remain. Parallel advocacy OPT. Israeli) are working to develop campaigns, coordinated visits of the and implement an inter-agency international community and the Currently, first line responses to response to internal displace- media, and legal assistance services displacement are provided by ment. Building on existing studies have also provided a level of pro- UNRWA and the ICRC in the on displacement in the OPT and tection for villagers. form of emergency shelter, food preliminary data that has been and other basic supplies intended gathered, the group’s longer-term In the Um al Nasser village in Gaza, to help IDPs cope with immedi- initiatives include documenting 1,450 people were displaced in ate material losses of home and and monitoring the situation with March 2007 following a breach property. This emergency assis- a view to improving advocacy ef- of a nearby sewage lagoon. Here, tance does not sufficiently meet forts to mitigate and stop forced displacement was expected as the the needs, as demonstrated in this displacement and implementing construction of a sewage treat- survey, and also fails to address the a protection response that seeks ment station has been stalled and needs of the host family or com- to prevent forced displacement, the lagoons were (and remain) full munity. It is not complemented by address vulnerabilities during a to overflowing. Prevention efforts adequate intermediate and long- displacement event, and searches were not employed effectively. term assistance responses and for a durable solution. However, the emergency response focused interventions to prevent following the displacement— displacement. Specifically, the cur- In the 2008 and 2009 UN Con- including prompt assessment and rent response does not involve solidated Appeals,56 the Protection provision of short-term emergency searching for durable solutions Cluster prioritized forced displace- shelter, water, food, hygiene and as outlined in the Guiding Prin- ment and the need for a more kitchen kits; prompt clean-up and ciples (namely voluntary return or coordinated response. rebuilding efforts; 24-hour medical resettlement and local integration assistance; comprehensive psycho- for IDPs). Examples exist of communities that social assessments; and effective are successfully resisting displace- coordination and communica- 34 tion—can be viewed as an ex- Palestinian Counselling Centre are risk of displacement, survey IDPs to ample of effective response to be developing programmatic respons- find out what they need in order emulated and improved. es to help prevent displacement. to return, and examine the impact of this phenomenon on IDP and Some donors have recently incor- These examples provide a ba- host families and communities. See porated protection responses to sis for developing best practice Recommendations section at the forced displacement pressures as around preventing displacement end of the report for fuller details part of their emergency protec- and working for durable solutions. of the steps required to implement tion responses. Save the Children More work also needs to be done, a UN-led coordinated inter-agency UK, Welfare Association, and the however, to map communities at response.

An Israeli military bulldozer demolishes a home in Kharbatha, near Ramallah, on April1, 2004. PHOTO/ O. SILWADI 35 5 - CONCLUSION

“I still remember the day the Israelis happened just before [the Muslim This study seeks to highlight the di- destroyed our house. It was the last holiday] Eid. Everything was burnt, rect victims, particularly children, of day of Ramadan... Suddenly we heard including my new Eid clothes… Ev- house demolitions and make policy some noise outside, and when my fa- eryone was happy about Eid except recommendations on the basis of ther looked out from the window, he me. I was crying that day. I couldn’t its findings. saw the Israeli tanks in front of our go to school later because all my building. I started crying and shouting. school things were burnt.”—Salma, I knew they came to kill us… All this Beit Lahia in the Gaza Strip

FROM IMPACT TO A RESPONSE The following table lays out the impact of the demolition of a home on families, according to this study’s findings.

Immediate stage Short-term stage Long-term stage 1-30 days 1-6 months More than six months

General state of the family In shock Survival: Trying to survive Chronic disruption in fam- as one unit ily life

Residence Interim shelter: usually a Interim residence: rented Alternate residence: Half tent, mobile home, school houses, houses owned by of the families returned to or public building. Many relatives or the extended their homes after renova- turn to relatives and a family. A few renovate their tion. The rest stay in rented few can afford a rented demolished house and return houses or houses owned by house. to it. the extended family.

Food and clothing Dependent upon aid Needs only: demand for Poverty: most families live institutions: concentration permanent aid, if available, in deteriorated economic on basic needs, mainly and other aid including basic conditions, whereby food food and water. Short- needs, mainly food. Shortage and clothing are available age of clothing, which has in clothing. in small quantities. Some been damaged during children suffer from malnu- demolition. trition. 36 Immediate stage Short-term stage Long-term stage 1-30 days 1-6 months More than six months

Hygiene and health Ruins: life in a ruined Overcrowding: families live ‘New’ residence: living environment filled with in overcrowded permanent conditions improve after waste. Waste water residences causing deteriorat- the family adapts to new sewage systems are ed health conditions. Health situation, yet it remains often damaged. Neglect conditions of the chronically- less comfortable com- of health needs such as diseased deteriorate. pared to the demolished medicine for chronic house. Development of diseases because they psychophysical symptoms. are not available and not Deterioration in general a top priority. health conditions.

Health services Dependent upon aid in- Recipient of health services Services are available stitutions, which provide available in the OPT (ministry but are not used due to basic health services at of health, UNRWA, etc.) poor finances. No finan- the demolition scene, cial resources available to especially in cases of col- purchase medicine and go lective demolition. for tests.

Labour and financial status Temporary halt: the fam- Return to work: Previously Some time after the ily head stops working to employed family members demolition, some family manage family issues and return to their careers, espe- heads lose their jobs due provide support during cially salaried employees. to deteriorated psycho- the critical time. logical health or move- ment to another area. Those self-employed are most deeply impacted due to serious financial losses incurred. Education and schools Temporary interruption: Return to school: most chil- Schools return to normal; children are absent from dren return to school after nevertheless, children get school for days to remain a short time, either to their low marks and suffer from close to their parents. previous schools or a new serious behavioural prob- In many cases of collec- one if they have moved to a lems. In some cases, chil- tive demolitions, schools new area. dren drop out of school. were temporarily shut down. 37 Through analysis of the data col- for long periods of time—the withdrawal, difficulty relating to lected through the field work, it is majority for two years or more— their peers, violent and sometimes clear that children and families who affecting dozens of children. delinquent behaviour, stress and experience house demolition have depression, difficulty in concentrat- special needs brought about by this “Now I am alone and there is no one ing, attention problems, and higher experience of trauma. Indeed, the to play with. A long time ago I used rates of obsessive, compulsive and clear mental health and socio-eco- to play with other kids my age. I liked psychotic behaviours. These broad nomic consequences of house de- them and also liked playing with psychological symptoms emphasize molition indicate that children and them. Now I play with my cousins— the fact that the mental health con- the family are not being protected but not a lot.”—Sultan, 12, Ramallah sequences of house demolition re- as required by the Convention on semble a continuous trauma rather the Rights of the Child and other This study shows that these chil- than a single incident of trauma. human rights conventions, the dren must cope with continuous Although beyond the scope of this UN Guiding Principles on Internal and ongoing trauma, as feelings study, there are also physical con- Displacement and international of loss haunt them in their fam- sequences of psychological trauma. humanitarian law. ily and their wider environment. These include irritable bowel Children report a subsequent loss syndrome, fibromyalgia, and other The rights enshrined in the Con- of nurturing and tenderness from somatic complaints.57 vention on the Rights of the Child their parents, who are supposed to include the child’s right to equal- act as their protectors. Analysis of The majority of house demolitions ity, the right not to be arbitrarily the study’s results shows trauma- studied resulted in the displace- displaced, the right to adequate related deterioration in the par- ment of the inhabitants. The sub- housing, the right to live in dignity, ent’s mental health, while one-third sequent period of migration is the right to an adequate standard of the parents were in danger of determined by the family’s financial of living, the right to health and consequentially developing mental resources, the assistance they re- education, the right to live with health disorders. Thus, the deterio- ceive and the possibility of return- parents in a sound environment, rated mental health of their par- ing to the same land after the and the right to play and be free ents further places children at risk, house demolition. Generally, migra- from violence and fear (see p. 17). as they lose emotional security as a tion leads to significant change, consequence of physical insecurity. mainly distance from the extended The demolition of a house is only family. It also leads to tension in the the beginning of trauma for these As indicated, children whose hous- relationship between the nuclear children and their families. The ma- es were demolished were in poor family and extended family mem- jority of the families studied whose mental health compared with their bers due to fundamental changes houses were demolished were peers. This affected the children’s in the lifestyles of both. Maintain- subsequently repeatedly displaced overall health and resulted in social ing proximity to the original home 38 and the family’s cultivated network hand, and daily cases of demolition Overcrowding in host communities of resources around that home is in targeted areas, on the other, led has consequences for health and important for a family’s health and participants in the study to panic education, risking the spread of dis- ability to cope. in anticipation. One family in Rafah ease and lowering enrolment rates. even reported feeling a sense of It also risks increased conflict over Our study shows that certain fam- stability and reassurance follow- resources such as land and water. ily mechanisms break down after ing the demolition, explaining that the trauma of house demolition. daily anticipation of the demolition Displacement from agriculturally Tension accumulates in the rela- of their house was far worse than strategic areas, including the north- tionship between the parent and their feelings following the demoli- ern West Bank and the Jordan the child, limiting the ability of this tion. If a family seeks to reconstruct Valley, could have severe conse- relationship to ease the impact of their demolished house, there is quences for food security in the trauma. often the risk that the home will OPT. In 2000, Jenin, Tulkarem and be demolished once again. Qalqiliya—all areas with consider- Usually the mother plays a major able access issues related to the role in alleviating or aggravating WIDER CONSEQUENCES Wall and other Israeli military infra- her children’s post-traumatic stress OF NO RESPONSE structure—accounted for 45% of symptoms. Children may be un- agricultural production in the West able to overcome the trauma of In addition to risks to children and Bank. Displacement from these the house demolition without her families, the internal displacement areas will presumably increase aid help, and she may be preoccupied of Palestinians threatens to signifi- dependency. with her own symptoms. The father cantly change the social fabric and plays an indirect role, albeit one not demographic composition of Pal- Forced displacement in Gaza fol- less important. A psychologically- estinian society and the OPT. No lows different patterns. Effectively healthy father provides a healthier response will also increase instabil- stuck and with nowhere else to family atmosphere, which helps the ity and worsen poverty. go, Gazans are forced to return to mother and the children overcome unsafe and already overcrowded their crisis. Therefore, the child’s The long-term effects of forced areas. Without a coordinated psychological health is closely as- displacement in the OPT may be response by the aid community to sociated with the parents’ health. analogous to urbanization. IDPs in the problem of house demolitions, cities will remain there or move Palestinians face increasing internal These families are not only trauma- further into the crowded inner city. displacement, compounded socio- tized at the time of the demolition This study has shown that refugees economic problems, and a shift in or afterwards, but also preceding whose homes are demolished be- the demographic landscape. the destruction of their home. come residents of urban areas, fur- Direct threat of demolition, on one ther straining municipal resources. 39 6 - RECOMMENDATIONS

“[T]he demolitions ordered The state of Israel has, in addition, Establishment of mechanisms either for lack of permit or failed to take up its protective role that provide sustained service another pretext have a military in responding to the special needs provision for relief and rehabili- dimension and a gratuitously of families following the demoli- tation, including a clear referral cruel nature.” —Miloon Kothari, tion of their homes. The Palestinian system for providers of psy- UN Special Rapporteur on hous- Authority has been unable to take chological, health, and educa- ing, June 12, 2002 up its responsibilities in this regard tion services. “Israeli policies on house demoli- due to a lack of resources and Creation of a mapping mecha- tions … may, in certain instanc- because it exercises no administra- nism for monitoring commu- es, amount to cruel, inhuman or tive, legal, or political control over nities at risk of displacement, degrading treatment or punish- the most vulnerable areas of the along with identification and ment.” —UN Committee against West Bank and Gaza Strip. Instead, Torture, 2001 local, international, and UN agen- implementation of localised cies have committed themselves to prevention strategies. The findings of this study show responding to these obligations. that Palestinian children and their In addition, we recommend the families who experience the To respond effectively to the spe- following steps be taken to protect demolition of their homes are not cial vulnerabilities of children and children and their families. being properly protected. their families following an event of such trauma, the following should STATE OF ISRAEL Not only are house demolitions take place: carried out for punitive reasons, as Halt the demolition of Pales- collective punishment, or in military Development and roll-out of tinian homes. operations considered a violation of standardized forms and ques- international humanitarian law (as tionnaires to assess vulnerabil- Respect and apply to the OPT stipulated, for example, in Article ity and damage and to ensure the principles of international 53 of the Fourth Geneva Conven- appropriate responses. humanitarian law, international tion) but Israel’s policy of house human rights law, including the demolitions is also a violation of its Monitoring of displacement Convention on the Rights of obligations as stipulated in the Con- and registration of displaced the Child, and relevant security vention on the Rights of the Child families to more effectively council resolutions. and the UN Guiding Principles on support rehabilitation and re- Forced Displacement and other integration of families. Establish/mandate an indepen- international human rights law.58 dent commission to investigate 40 the legality of house demoli- intervention to families threat- Take up the issue with the tions that will address questions ened with house demolition. Special Rapporteurs, the of restitution and compensa- Special Representative to the tion for those who have been Ensure necessary assistance for Secretary General, and the harmed in contravention of victims of house demolitions, Emergency Response Coordi- international humanitarian law. especially children, particularly nator. providing psychological sup- Hold a hearing in the Knesset port and necessary referrals. DONOR GOVERNMENTS on the impact of house de- molitions on the well-being of Ensure that displacement and Apprise themselves of condi- children in the OPT, and their house demolitions remain on tions related to internal dis- relationship to Israeli responsi- the agenda during political placement. bilities under the Convention negotiations. on the Rights of the Child. Ensure that information related THE INTERNATIONAL to internal displacement is in- Ensure aid community access COMMUNITY cluded in the delegations’ regu- to populations at risk and to lar reporting to headquarters, people that have been dis- Advocate for prevention of as well as the country-specific placed. house demolitions in the OPT, needs assessments. through political pressure and PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY by providing support for legal Integrate support for the UN- intervention to families threat- led inter-agency response into Monitor and document the ened with house demolition. funding strategies. practice of house demolition in the OPT, in particular East Je- Develop and implement an Call upon Israel to adhere to rusalem, the resulting displace- inter-agency response to its obligations under interna- ment, and the damage caused. internal displacement in the tional humanitarian and human OPT. rights law vis-à-vis its house Advocate for prevention of demolitions policy. house demolitions in the OPT, Mobilize funds to implement through political pressure and the response, through the by providing support for legal Consolidated Appeal Process and other mechanisms.

41 A camp of internally displaced in Jabalia, northern Gaza. PHOTO/M. FATHI 42 7 - ANNEX - RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

RESEARCH SAMPLE Children Behaviour Checklist (CBCL):59 This question- naire consists of 112 indicators rated from zero to Information was collected from 59 families whose two in accordance with their manifestation. The indica- houses were demolished by Israeli military forces tors are related to child mental health: withdrawal, so- between the years 2000 and 2006, except for two matic complaints, anxiety/depression, social problems, families whose houses were demolished prior. Within thought problems, attention difficulties, delinquency these families, 106 children (61 male and 45 female) and violent behaviour, as well as introversion. This between the ages of five and 18 were targeted by the questionnaire is designed to study children between study. Psychosocial questionnaires were filled out by 95 the ages of four and 18. In our study, we have used of the families (42 fathers and 53 mothers), in addition the version designed to be taken by the parents to questionnaires filled out for or by (depending on rather than the children themselves. age) 96 control children (54 male and 42 female). The average age of children in families whose houses have Brief Symptoms Inventory (BSI):60 This list consists of been demolished was 12.05 years, compared with 53 symptoms rated on a scale of zero to four in ac- 11.63 years for the children in the control group. There cordance with their manifestation. It is designed to be is no statistical difference in age and gender between taken by adults and measures the following indicators: the control children and the children in the study. somatisation symptoms, obsession compulsion, de- pression, phobia, hostility, and psychosis, among others. In addition, a number of open interviews were carried In addition, general indicators may also be extrapo- out profiling seven different families. The interviews lated, such as the General Severity Index (GSI), which encompassed a family from Rafah, the parents and reflects the severity of the symptoms suffered. two children of a family from Ramallah, a mother and her daughter from Bethlehem, a father from Bethle- Parenting Stress Index (PSI):61 This questionnaire seeks hem, and two children from two different families and to measure stress in the relationship between child a mother from a third family from Jenin refugee camp. and parent. It consists of 101 items (items 102-120 associated with life pressures were eliminated). The TOOLS questionnaire measures two perspectives of stress: that of the child, which includes distractibility and Structured Questionnaires hyperactivity, adaptability, reinforcing of parent, de- The following questionnaires were translated from mandingness, mood and acceptability, and that of the English into Arabic to be used in the study. parent, which includes competence, social isolation, attachment to the child, health, role restriction, de- pression and spouse. 43 Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS):62 This scale con- of the individual’s sense of coherence can be extrapo- sists of 17 items representing posttraumatic psycho- lated: understanding, management and concept. logical symptoms in accordance with DSM IV, which are rated on a scale according to their manifestation. Family Sense of Coherence (FSOC):66 This question- Three types of symptoms can be extrapolated: intru- naire consists of 12 items for measuring the sense of sion, avoidance and hyperarousal. In addition, diagnosis coherence within the family. It is a development of can be made according to DSM IV standards. the previous questionnaire’s theory on to the family. It consists of 12 sentences that are to be rated from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Index (PSDI):63 This one to seven accordingly. questionnaire includes 22 symptoms to be rated on a scale from one to five, according to their appearance. Self–Esteem Scale: This questionnaire consists of ten The scale is designed for children and teenagers and statements to be rated from one to four depending assists the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder, in on the individual’s agreement with the statement. This accordance with DSM IV. is a simple measure of self-esteem applied to teenag- ers. Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ):64 This question- naire consists of 30 methods arranged on a scale from Semi-Structured Questionnaires one to two in accordance with the extent to which This questionnaire was designed to learn about the each is used in problem resolution. Three stress coping family building, its demolition, and the living conditions strategies can be extrapolated: those focused on the of the family prior to and following the demolition. problem, those focused on emotions and avoidance. The questionnaire includes queries on the following:

Social Support Index (SSI): This index consists of 12 A. Information regarding the parents and children statements used to measure the satisfaction of the (age, vocational and academic level, health status individual with the support he/she receives from the and any other observations); people around him/her. Each item is rated from one to seven, depending on the respondent’s feelings re- B. Their economic conditions: steady and periodic garding the applicability of each sentence. income, assets, land or property, children receiving education in universities or private schools; Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-13):65 This is an abridged version of Antonovsky’s sense of coher- C. The reasons and procedures surrounding the ence scale. It consists of 13 sentences that are to be house demolition. Reasons are divided into three rated from one to seven by the respondent. The scale categories: security, lack of a building permit, or is considered a good measure of resilience against punitive. Legal procedures applied by the Israeli symptoms of disease as a result of trauma. Elements authorities were recorded in detail;

44 RESEARCH PROCEDURES D. The house demolition, how it was carried out, who was present, injuries and damage incurred; Information and data on houses demolished between the years 2000 and 2006 were collected with the E. A description of the demolished building and its assistance of various organizations (B’Tselem, Al- value, as well as furnishings lost; and Haq, Al-Mezan, The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, the Housing Ministry, governorates and F. The stages experienced by the family follow- village councils). By examining the data collected, a ing the house demolition. In this section, the head research sample was adopted of one house for every of the family describes the various stages of the 60 houses demolished. Houses were divided into four family’s movements and residences since the day districts: North West Bank (Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarem, of the demolition to the present. A table of ques- Qalqilya and Salfit), Central West Bank (Ramallah, tions about living conditions during each period is Jericho and Jerusalem), South West Bank (Hebron and filled out. This table relates directly to the Child’s Bethlehem) and the Gaza Strip. In each district, cases Rights Convention and the experiences of chil- were divided further between houses in cities, villages dren under the new living conditions. and refugee camps.

Interviews The field teams used the data to establish the follow- All interviews were conducted with families who did ing parameters limiting the sample to: not participate in the quantitative research. 1. Families with houses that were demolished Interviews opened with introductions, then the inter- between 2000 and 2006; viewee was asked to narrate the story of the demoli- tion. Interviewers were expected to ask few questions 2. The presence of children between the ages of at the beginning of the interview, and only illustrative five and 18, one child at least and preferably two; ones. In some interviews, the interviewees needed and to be drawn out and interviewers were told to ask questions regarding the changes that had occurred 3. Demolition of the house while the family was since the house demolition. The interviews with chil- living there. dren were much more challenging, as they often had difficulty in expressing themselves. Nevertheless, they The heads of the families selected were contacted. The were more genuine, not seeking to embellish their above-mentioned organizations, with the assistance of narrative of events. Many individuals approached to local councils and mutual acquaintances, helped ar- be interviewed refused; therefore, they were replaced range home visits to the families. The research team of with individuals from other families. two individuals was present at all the home visits, dur-

45 ing which the relevant questionnaires were filled out. by the teenagers: the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Occasionally, there was a need to return, either be- Index (PTSDI), Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-13), cause time ran out or due to the absence of targeted Family Sense of Coherence (FSOC), Coping Strategies members of the family. Questionnaire (CSQ), Social Support Index (SSI) and Self-Esteem Scale. The research team tried to approach the study’s con- trol children at the same time of the visit by searching The control children were divided in a similar manner, for children of a similar age in the neighbourhood. whereby one of the parents (preferably the mother) Unfortunately, this wasn’t always successful and the filled out questionnaires for children under 12 years of team had to seek out children similar in residence, age age, and teenagers filled out their own questionnaires. and gender at a later time. In addition, the CBCL was completed by the parents for the control children. RESEARCH SYSTEM DATA ANALYSIS The demolition questionnaires (semi-structured ques- tionnaires) were filled out by one of the parents in All structured questionnaires and sections of the semi- each family. Both parents were asked to fill out the fol- structured questionnaires were entered into the SPSS lowing: the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS), Brief program for statistical analysis. Statistical analysis was Symptoms Inventory (BSI), Coping Strategies Ques- carried out by comparing averages of indicators from tionnaire (CSQ) and the Social Support Index (SSI). In the control group and the study group, including gen- addition, one of the parents (preferably the mother) der differences, through the t-test. In addition, correla- was asked to fill the Children Behaviour Check List tions were calculated between the different variables. (CBCL) for all participant children. Some of the correlations concerned the same person, whereby the correlation between psychological health Children were divided between those who were indicators and protective/risk factors were calculated. under age 12 and teenagers (12-18 years). Given that The other set of variables, however, measured the children under 12 are incapable of filling the question- relationship between psychological indicators for dif- naires by themselves, one of their parents filled out ferent members of the same family. The questionnaires the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) instead. However, and interviews conducted for this study were consid- a number of questionnaires were directly filled out ered evidence of the demolitions and their aftermath.

46 8 - ENDNOTES

1- While the US dollar has fluctuated in the last year and exchange rates are difficult to 17-“Through No Fault of Their Own: Israel’s Punitive House Demolitions in the al-Aqsa set, but for the sake of comparison, the same exchange rate was used for the poverty Intifada”, B’Tselem Information Sheet, November 2004. rates given below. 18-Ibid. 2- 1,837 NIS (USD 414) and 2,300 NIS (USD 518) respectively. The first refers to a budget for food, clothing and housing, while the second adds other necessities such as 19-According to the B’Tselem study, only 3% were given prior warning. This was born health care, education, transportation, personal care and housekeeping supplies. out by our study’s sample, where most house demolitions took place without prior warning. Only one family out of 59 actually received a warning. In addition, 34 houses 3-Inter-Agency Standing Committee Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Sup- were demolished during the night without prior warning. port in Emergency Settings, p. 3. 20-For example, during 2002 incursions into Nablus city, Israeli bulldozers demolished 4-For more information about early demolitions, see for example Ilan Pappe’s 2004 the al-Sha’bi house while they were still inside. Eight family members were killed, book, A History of Modern Palestine: One Land, Two Peoples, Cambridge University including six children. Press. According to data available from the Committee against House Demolitions in Israel, 24,130 houses have been demolished since 1967, 6,000 of them directly after 21-Defence (emergency) Regulations (1945). Palestine Gazette No. 1442, 2, 1055. the war in Latrun (the villages of Emmaus, Beit Nuba, Yalo), as well as most of the Dung Gate neighbourhood in Jerusalem’s Old City. (“Statistics on House Demolitions”, 22-See al-Haq for more on the subject of the Emergency Regulations. ICAHD, February 2009) 23-The Israeli High Court has ruled on hundreds of appeals by Palestinians seeking 5-ICAHD. review of pending home demolitions but has usually ruled in favour of the military authorities. 6-As described below, demolitions by the Israeli army are only one segment of the demolitions that Israel carries out. ICAHD documented that between October 2000 24-For more information see Khameyseh, R. (1989 Arabic & English). Israeli Planning and and 2004, 628 homes were demolished as collective punishment against the families House Demolishing Policy in the West Bank, PASSIA and Amirav, M (2007). Sandrom of persons suspected of involvement in attacks on Israelis. An additional 1,900 homes Yerushalayem: Cacha qarsa hamadiniot loach Yerushalayem [Hebrew]. were demolished between September 2000 and May 2007 by Israeli civilian authorities due to building permit violations. 25-“Movement and Access Restrictions in the West Bank: Uncertainty and Inefficiency in the Palestinian Economy,” World Bank, May 9, 2007 7-Save the Children UK Fact Sheet, June 2007 26-Ibid. 8-OCHA Weekly Briefing Notes 27-“Meanwhile Israel grabs the rest of Jerusalem,” Herald Tribune, Hind Khoury, August 9-Al-Mezan Human Rights Organization 2005.

10-Total displacement numbers for January and March are at least 215 (predominantly 28-Home demolitions in East Jerusalem, Meir Margalit, Israeli Committee Against House in the West Bank) and 135 respectively, and at least 95 children are known to have Demolitions, 24 July, 2007 been displaced during March. An additional 147 people were displaced during March in Gaza (UN OCHA). The estimate for child displacement in January was achieved 29-Qouta, S., Punamaki, R-L., El-Sarraj, E. (1998). “House demolition and mental health: by applying the overall West Bank child population percentage to the known total Victims and witnesses,” Journal of Social Distress and Homeless, 6(3), 203 – 211. displacement number for that month. The final estimate for March was achieved by applying the overall Gaza child population percentage to the additional 147 displaced 30-Low, S., & Stocker, C. (2005). “Family functioning and children’s adjustment: Associa- people in Gaza, and then adding this estimate to the 95 already documented displaced tions among parents’ depressed mood, marital hostility, parent-child hostility, and children. children’s adjustment,” Journal of Family Psychology, 19(3), 394-403.

11-“Affected” refers to people impacted by the demolition of a seasonal residence; such 31- These numbers are estimates, but they include: 4.5 million Palestinian refugees as the winter or summer residence of a Bedouin family. displaced in 1948 and registered for assistance with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency; an estimated 1.5 million Palestinian refugees displaced in 1948 but 12-This data is compiled from reports produced by the Israel/OPT Working Group on not registered; 950,000 refugees displaced in 1967; an estimated 338,000 internally Security Council Resolution 1612 on Children and Armed Conflict. displaced Palestinians in Israel; and an estimated 115,000 internally displaced Palestin- ians in the OPT. “Q & A”, Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee 13-According to the Israeli Committee against House Demolitions. Rights, 2008.

14-“Direct Losses in Infrastructure”, Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, January 32- “Israel strangles Area C development,” Jerusalem Post, Oct. 27, 2008, Dan Izenberg. 2009. 15-“IOF Escalates Its Attacks on Gaza”, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights Press 33- “’Lack of Permit’ demolitions and resultant displacement in Area C,” UN OCHA, May Release, January 2009. 2008.

16-Gaza Community Health Program 34- “Occupied Palestinian Territory: Forced displacement continues”, Internal Displace- ment Monitoring Center, September 2008, p. 7. 47 35- Razing Rafah: Mass Home Demolitions in the Gaza Strip, Human Rights Watch, scored lower and exhibited more symptoms of poor mental health than the sample October 2004. used by the CBCL’s creators to codify the list of children’s behaviour. Achenbach, T, M, (1991). Integrative Guide for the 1991 CBCL/4-18, YSR & TRF Profiles. Burlington, VT: 36- At the peak of displacement, UNRWA was accommodating almost 51,000 people, University of Vermont Department of Psychology. Further research is needed. among them approximately 28,560 children, in 44 shelters across Gaza. (OCHA) It has been estimated that 300-500,000 people were displaced, among them 112,000 54- Sometimes extended family members fear greater dependence on the part of, or children. (Al Mezan) connection to, a traumatized family; sometimes compassion and pity, which can be dif- ficult to cope with, are an obstacle to strong relationships. 37- Off the Map: Land and Housing Rights Violations in Israel’s Unrecognized Bedouin Villages, Human Rights Watch, March 30, 2008. 55- Bagot, R., Parent, C., Bredy, T.W, Zhang, T., Gratton, A. & Meaney, M.J.(2007). Develop- mental Origins of Neurobiological Vulnerability for PTSD. In Kirmayer, L.J., Lemelson, R., 38- ‘The Ramifications of House Demolitions in Israel on the Mental Health of Children,’ & Barad, M., Understanding Trauma: Integrating Biologica, Clinical and Cultural Perspec- Orly Almi, Unrecognized Negev Villages Project, Physicians for Human Rights – Israel tives. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

39- See “Jahalin Bedouin Refugees - Nowhere Left to Go,” ICAHD, October 28, 2007. 56- The UN Consolidated Appeal is a tool for structuring a coordinated humanitar- ian response to complex and/or major emergencies within the consolidated appeals 40- “West Bank herders afflicted by drought,” IRIN, December 13, 2008. process (CAP).

41- See “Bedouin Nomads Under Threat in the Holy Land,” Carollyne Wheeler, Daily 57- Mayer, E.A. (2007), Somatic Manifestations of Traumatic Stress. InKirmayer, L.J., Lemel- Telegraph, 25 August, 2008 or “Forced Displacement of Bedouin,” POICA Case Stud- son, R., & Barad, M., Understanding Trauma: Integrating Biologica, Clinical and Cultural ies, 10 January 2008, www.poica.org Perspectives. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

42- These studies include Amnesty International, “Under the rubble: House demolition 58- “International humanitarian law permits an occupier to take the drastic step of and destruction of land and property,” 18 May 2004 and “Demolition of Palestinian destroying property only when ‘rendered absolutely necessary by military opera- houses by Israeli occupying forces as a means of punishment and determent: A report tions.’ According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), military on the Demolition of houses of families of Palestinians who carried out, planned or operations are ‘movements, manœuvres and actions of any sort, carried out by the facilitated armed attacks against Israeli targets,” 10 January – 30 June 2003; Darcy S., armed forces with a view to combat.’ A belligerent occupation cannot be considered 2003, “Israel’s punitive house demolition policy: Collective punishment in violation of a “military operation” in itself, nor can every activity conducted by the Occupying international law,” Al-Haq; and B’Tselem, “Through no fault of their own: Israel’s punitive Power be considered a military operation; rather, a military operation must have house demolitions in the al-Aqsa Intifada” information sheet, November 2004 and some concrete link to actual or anticipated fighting… Outside of combat, the Oc- “Policy of destruction: House demolition and destruction of agricultural land in the cupying Power may take measures to enhance its security. Among other things, it can Gaza Strip” information sheet, February 2002. temporarily take control of property to prevent its hostile use, build fortifications, and prohibit access to certain areas, but these measures must be compatible with 43- See citations throughout this report. a fuller range of human rights protections, including the right to compensation for properties seized. Although it has denied the applicability of international human 44- It should be noted that the response to this query (13%) are highly subjective: in the rights instruments to Palestinians in the OPT, Israel is widely considered to be bound interviews, respondents sometimes said they were allowed to remove “nothing” from by these laws.” Razing Rafah. the house, but went on to describe being allowed a few minutes to grab documents. 59- Achenbach, T, M, (1991). Integrative Guide for the 1991 CBCL/4-18, YSR & TRF 45- Numerous families surveyed did not answer this question, hence the use of numbers Profiles. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont Department of Psychology here instead of percentages. 60- Derogatis,L. (1975). Brief Symptoms Inventory. Edin Prarie, MN: National Computer 46- The answers to this question were open-ended and therefore families did not System indicate how the Israeli military prevented them from returning. 61- Abidin, R. (1995). Parenting Stress Index: Professional Manual. Odessa, FL: Psychologi- 47- Not all refugees in the OPT live in refugee camps. Of our sample, 54% of the moth- cal Assessment Resource, Inc. ers and fathers in the families reported being refugees. 48- 31 of 51 families who responded to this question. 62- Foa, E., Cashman, L., Jaycox, L., & Perry, K. (1997). The validation of self report mea- sure of posttraumatic stress disorder: The posttraumatic diagnostic scale. Psychological 49-13 of the 50 who responded to this question. Assessment, 9(4), 445-451.

50- While the US dollar has fluctuated in the last year and exchange rates are difficult to 63-Pynoos, R., Rodriguez, N., & Steinberg, A. (2000). PTSD Index for DSM IV. Los Ange- set, for the sake of comparison, we have used the same exchange rate as the poverty les: University of California Los Angeles. rates given below. 64- Carver, M., Scheier, J. & Weintraub, J. (1989). Assessing coping strategies: a theoreti- 51- UN OCHA OPT Socioeconomic Fact Sheet, April 22, 2008. cally based approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56(2), 267-283.

52- Fifty-six families answered this question. 65- Eriksson, M. & Lindsrom, B. (2005). Validity of Antonovsky’s sense of coherence scale: a systematic review. Journal of Epidemiological Community Health, 59, p 460-466. 53- The lack of difference contradicts studies of other populations that examined samples and found contrasts, but it seems that the conditions experienced by Palestin- 66- This questionnaire was developed by Segal based on Antonovosky’s Salutogenic ian children, particularly children whose houses were demolished, erode these differ- model. ences between boys and girls. To further support this, the control sample for our study 48